January
Senator Rufus Choate Advocates for Smithsonian to be Library
Year:
1845
Month:
january
Day:
8
Date:
Wed, 1845-01-08
SIA Image reference:
Senator Rufus P. Choate of Massachusetts gives an impassioned and urgent speech to the U.S. Senate, advocating the establishment of a grand and noble public library with the James Smithson bequest. He recommends that the contemplated Smithsonian Institution allocate $20,000 a year for twenty-five years toward such a project. Due in part to his efforts, the final bill which establishes the Smithsonian Institution contains a provision for a library.